Overview
Job Title: Head of Clinical Services
Reports to: Director of Operations
Salary: £40k per annum (pro rata)
Working Pattern: Part-Time, 8-12 hours per week (flexible)
Location: Hybrid - Littlehampton, West Sussex
Closing Date: Midnight, Monday 6th October 2025
Purpose: Responsible for all Arun Counselling Centre’s clinical matters and overseeing the 32 Counsellors, split across 8 Supervision Groups. This includes taking decisions regarding the ethical operation of the charity in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework. This role is the most senior Clinical role in the organisation.
Responsibilities
* Manage and chair a meeting with supervisors monthly to offer clinical supervision of their work and the work of their counsellors.
* Work closely with the counsellors, assessors and supervisors to ensure that work with clients is highly professional and ethically sound.
* Manage the assessors to include training, monthly meetings for review, approval and grading of assessments and clinical supervision on an open-door policy.
* To be available to supervisors to help with queries and anxieties about any aspect of their work on an open-door policy.
* Act as the Clinical Lead for BACP, including leading on the annual accreditation process and rolling reviews.
* Implement policy decisions with the support of the Director of Operations.
* Oversee the recruitment and onboarding of new Supervisors, Assessors and Counsellors.
* Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation, including managing the safeguarding risk assessment and registration process.
* Liaise with the training organisations for the recruitment of supervisors and counsellors.
* Manage service user complaints, liaising with the Director at all times.
* Organise CPD events for both staff and the Friends of Arun service (FAS) with support from the Director. FAS provides CPD training on Saturdays to ACC alumni and interested counsellors.
* Networking with partners deemed to be of strategic importance with regard to improving and increasing the Clinical service offering.
* Lead and maintain high standards of quality & compliance using Cliniko.
* To stand in for the Director of Operations when required.
* To promote a positive culture, focused on wellbeing and collaboration, across the centre for all staff.
* To positively represent the organisation internally and externally, including at the attendance of engagement and networking events, as required.
This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only. The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with the line manager. The post holder may be asked to carry out any other delegated duty or task that is in line with their post.
Person Specification
Job Title: Head of Clinical Services
(E = Essential, D = Desirable)
Skills and Core Competencies
* Technical competency (qualifications and training)
o BACP accredited or working toward accreditation. (E)
o Demonstrable evidence of Continuing Professional Development (E)
o Supervision qualification (D)
* Experience
o A minimum of three years’ Supervision experience (E)
o Previous experience of having been Clinical Lead for a Counselling Service (E)
o Previous experience using Cliniko or similar CRM type systems (D)
* Skills and Attributes
o Strong understanding of BACP accreditation process and ethical framework (E)
o Excellent and proven people management skills, ability to lead, taking a supportive and open approach with the ability to motivate and inspire (E)
o Able to work effectively within a team, as well as on own initiative (E)
o Able to interpret requirements, plan and implement (E)
o Ability to analyse client data, and make decisions as a result (E)
o Experience of working in a changing business environment, autonomously and the ability to work to deadlines and meet targets (E)
* Personal qualities, communicating and relating to others
o Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, competent in use of IT including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. (E)
o Organised, with strong planning, performance and compliance management skills (E)
o Flexible, adaptable, innovative, copes well in a rapidly changing environment (E)
o Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills (E)
o Self-motivated, manage workload effectively, ensuring attention to detail with the ability to meet strict deadlines (E)
o Demonstrated capability for problem solving, decision making, sound judgement and assertiveness (E)
o Strive to improve practice to be creative and innovative and work towards continuous improvement. (E)
o Adopt a co-operative approach to delivery by maintaining and promoting effective communication, sharing good practice across the organisation and externally. (E)
o Relationship management – develop and maintain productive relationships with your Team, Management, Clients, Partners, delivery partners and all key stakeholders. (E)
Safeguarding
* Be able to display awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults. (E)
* This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service Check at a Basic Level (E)
Other
* Understand and be able to demonstrate a commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. (E)
* Able to monitor and maintain records in accordance with GDPR legislation (D)
* Working knowledge of H&S legislation and employment law (D)
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a sufficient number of applicants are received before the given closing date.
To apply for this role please email your CV together with a covering letter to james.davies@aruncounselling.com.
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